Providing add-ons for network applications

Abstract

This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for providing add-ons associated with network applications. For instance, a user may be controlling an application that is executing on a remote system using a control device and a display device. While the application is executing, the remote system may send user interface data to the display device, where the user interface data represents a user interface that includes add-ons that may be acquired for the application. If the user selects an add-on, the display device may communicate with a payment system in order to acquire the add-on. The remote system may then determine that the user acquired the add-on using data received from the display device and/or data received from a management system associated with the application. As such, the remote system may enable the add-on for the user within the application.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A remote system comprising:
 at least one database storing:
 profile data representing a user account, the user account being associated with a gaming controller and a display device; and 
 game data representing a game; 
 
 one or more network interfaces; 
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 establishing, using the one or more network interfaces, a communication channel with the display device; 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to the display device, first video data representing a first state of the game; 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to the display device, user interface data offering at least an add-on that is available for the game, the add-on associated with a price for purchasing the add-on; 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the gaming controller, input data indicating a selection of the add-on; 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to the display device, selection data indicating the selection of the add-on; 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the display device, purchase data indicating that purchasing of the add-on has been complete; 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to a management system, request data representing a request for add-ons associated with the user account; 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the management system, response data indicating that the add-on is available for the game; and 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to the display device, second video data representing a second state of the game, the second state of the game including content associated with the add-on. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system as recited in  claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the management system, add-on data representing one or more add-ons that are available for purchase for the game; and 
 associating the add-on data with the game data. 
 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communication channel is a first communication channel that is established at a first time, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 terminating the first communication channel with the display device; 
 after terminating the first communication channel, establishing, using the one or more network interfaces and at a second time, a second communication channel with the display device; 
 based at least in part on establishing the second communication channel, sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to the management system, additional request data representing an additional request for the add-ons associated with the user account; and 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the management system, additional response data indicating that the add-on is available for the game. 
 
     
     
       4. A method comprising:
 storing first data representing an application; 
 storing second data representing a user account, the user account being associated with a control device and a display device; 
 receiving third data representing an acquisition of an add-on associated with the application; 
 sending, to one or more computing devices, fourth data representing a request for add-ons associated with the user account; 
 receiving, from the one or more computing devices, fifth data representing at least the add-on; and 
 based at least in part on receiving the fifth data, sending, to the display device, video data representing a state of the application, the state of the application including content associated with the add-on. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 executing the first data representing the application; and 
 while executing the first data, sending, to the display device, sixth data representing one or more add-ons that are available for the application, the one or more add-ons including at least the add-on. 
 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 before receiving the third data, receiving, from the control device, input data indicating a selection of the add-on from the one or more add-ons; and 
 based at least in part on receiving the input data, sending, to the display device, seventh data representing the selection of the add-on. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 before receiving the third data, receiving, from a client device associated with the user account, sixth data representing a request to acquire the add-on; and 
 based at least in part on receiving the sixth data, sending, to the display device, seventh data that causes the display device to initiate acquisition of the add-on. 
 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 establishing a communication channel with the display device, 
 and wherein sending the fourth data representing the request for the add-ons is based at least in part on establishing the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 sending, to the display device, sixth data representing one or more first add-ons that are available for the application; 
 receiving, from the control device, seventh data representing an input associated with viewing one or more second add-ons that are available for the application; and 
 based at least in part on receiving the seventh data, sending, to the display device, seventh data representing the one or more second add-ons that are available for the application. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising sending, to the display device, sixth data representing at least:
 the add-on that is associated with the application; 
 a type of add-on associated with the add-on; and 
 a price of the add-on. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the one or more computing devices, sixth data representing one or more add-ons that are available for the application; and 
 storing the sixth data representing the one or more add-ons in association with the first data representing the application. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the control device, input data indicating a selection of the application; and 
 and wherein sending the fourth data representing the request for the add-ons is based at least in part on the receiving the input data. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining one or more updates associated with the add-on; and 
 sending, to the one or more computing devices, sixth data indicating the one or more updates associated with the add-on. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein sending the fourth data representing the request for add-ons associated with the user account comprises sending, to the one or more computing devices, the fourth data representing at least one of:
 an identifier associated with the user account; 
 an identifier associated with the application; or 
 a request for the add-ons. 
 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein receiving the fifth data representing at least the add-on comprises receiving, from the one or more computing devices, the fifth data representing at least one of:
 a consumable add-on that is available until expiration; 
 a durable add-on that is available when the application is executed; or 
 a subscription add-on that is acquired at the expiration of a time period. 
 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 one or more network interfaces; 
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving first data representing an identifier associated with a user account; 
 based at least in part on receiving the first data, establishing, using the one or more network interfaces, a network connection with a display device associated with the user account; 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to one or more computing devices, second data representing a request for add-ons associated with the user account; 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the one or more computing devices and over the network, third data indicating an add-on acquired for the application; and 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and via the network connection, video data to the display device, the video data representing a state of the application that includes content associated with the add-on. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The system as recited in  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and via the network connection, fourth data to the display device, the fourth data representing one or more add-ons associated with the application; 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the control device, input data representing a selection of the add-on from the one or more add-ons; and 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and via the network connection, fifth data to the display device, the fifth data representing the selection of the ad-on. 
 
     
     
       18. The system as recited in  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from a client device, fourth data representing a request to acquire the add-on; and 
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and to the display device, fourth data representing a command to acquire the add-on. 
 
     
     
       19. The system as recited in  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and via the network connection, fourth data from the display device, the fourth data indicating that the add-on has been acquired, 
 and wherein sending the second data representing the request for the add-ons associated with the user account is based at least in part on receiving the fourth data. 
 
     
     
       20. The system as recited in  claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
 sending, using the one or more network interfaces and via the network connection, fourth data to the display device, the fourth data representing one or more first add-ons associated with the application; 
 receiving, using the one or more network interfaces and from the control device, input data representing a selection to view one or more second add-ons associated with the application; and 
 based at least in part on receiving the input data, sending, using the one or more network interfaces and via the network connection, fifth data to the display device, the fifth data representing the one or more second add-ons associated with the application.